Sunday, July 31, 2011

I really struggled with this sketch, mostly because of the three circles but I think it turned out okay. I don't love it but I don't hate it either. I wanted to use the new in colours but I couldn't think of what I would use in place of the buttons since there aren't any in those colours, but as soon as I was done I realized I could have used butterflies there instead.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

I saw this beautiful wedding card that Lisa made and I knew right away that I would want to CASE it, so I put it in my favourites folder and finally got around to making it. Unfortunately, this is one of those cards that I just could not get a good photo of to do it justice - you'll just have to take my word for it that it is really beautiful in real life!

For my version, I stamped the background panel on using the outlined fabulous floret images in Versamark ink on whisper white cardstock and heat embossed them with white embossing powder. You can't tell in the photo but while the embossing powder was still wet, I sprinkled dazzling diamonds on it so that they sparkle as well. I did the same for the main image panel and the sentiment.

The whole card ends up with a white on white glitter effect that looks quite pretty and actually not difficult to read!

This will be the last of my posts for a while this summer. I'm off to Haiti tomorrow to volunteer nurse there for 8 days plus a few more for travel and I didn't have time to make cards to post while I'm away! If you are interested, you can read a bit more about my nursing trip here. I'm not really nervous about going at all, but this will be the first time in several years that Grant and I have spent this long apart. At least I'll have access to email to see how he and our puppy Maggie are doing!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Fabulous Florets is one of my favourite new stamps and it's perfect for embossing. This card was inspired by the sketch challenge SC340 and the ways to use it challenge WT329 to combine something old and something new.

In terms of something old, the challenge suggested something older than 6 months. So, I used retired ribbon from when melon mambo was an "in colour" and not yet in the brights collection. I also used the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set that I have owned since it was released at least a couple years ago.

In terms of something newer than 6 months old, I used my new stamp set Fabulous Florets, and two new embossing powders (melon mambo and wild wasabi).

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

I never even got around to finishing up making cards with all of my retiring stamp sets last month - I still had three more. Oh well, on to newer things!

As a demonstrator, we get a sneak peek of the new hostess sets in the new catalogue and are able to purchase a couple if we choose. I know it's another flower set, but I knew I wanted the simply soft set and I've had it in my possession for quite a while now but only just got around to stamping with it.

This is a CASE of this beautiful card by Karen. She always creates the most beautiful scenes like this using various techniques. This one involved what she calls "marker layering." It takes several shades of the same colour and layering them over one another leaving a little of each colour showing at the top. For this card I used pink pirouette, pretty in pink, regal rose and melon mambo. Karen also added a dot of white at the top of her flowers but it didn't look quite as nice without the dark contrast of her flowers so I opted to just leave it out.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Along with the new catalogue comes a great new promotion to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator. For the month of July, become a demonstrator for only $119. This limited time starter kit, a value of $205, comes with:

Easy Events clear-mount set*

Pennant Parade wood-mount set*

Old Olive classic stampin' pad

Pumpkin Pie classic stampin' pad

Real Red classic stampin' pad

Brights 8-1/2" x 11" assorted card stock

Basic Black classic stampin' pad

Whisper White note cards (20)

Just Add Cake designer series paper*

Chocolate Chip 1/2" scallop dots ribbon*

Blender pen (1)

Clear-mount block C

SNAIL adhesive

Business supplies

Getting Started DVD

Getting Started Guide

Guest Invitation Postcards (100)

2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue (8)

2011 Summer Mini Catalogue (8)

Stampin' Up! logo vinyl

Décor Elements applicator

To My Hostess Envelopes (10)

My Digital Studio Marketing DVD

Recruit Folders (5)

Recruit Brochures (20)

Customer Order Forms (50)

* new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue.

Note that you can still purchase the standard or digital starter kits. Just like the standard and digital starter kits, you can change the $119 starter kit to an alternate stamp set of equal or lesser value, alternate card stock of equal or lesser value and alternate classic stampin' pads of equal or lesser value.

PLUS, if you join the Stampin' Up family in July, you will earn an exclusive Christmas Keepsake Project kit, a $50 value, that includes additional Stampin' Up products!